Met Office: 2012 was second wettest year on record

Last year was the second wettest in the UK since records began, the Met Office
has confirmed.

The total rainfall of 1330.7mm (52.38in) was just 6.6mm (0.25in) less than the wettest ever year, 2000, despite Britain experiencing a drought for the first three months of 2012.

But the picture varied widely across the country, with 2012 being the wettest ever year in England, but only the 40th wettest in Northern Ireland, the 17th wettest in Scotland and the third wettest in Wales. Northern Scotland was considerably dryer than average.

Four of the five wettest years since records began in 1910 have happened this century, and the Met Office has warned that "extreme" rainfall, and the floods it can cause, is getting more frequent, possibly as a result of climate change.

Extreme rainfall is classed as the sort of heavy downpour that only occurs once every 100 days on average, but the latest figures show that such storms are now occurring about once every 70 days.

Britain's average annual rainfall has been steadily increasing over the past 20 years, with the 30-year average rising from 1100mm (43.3in) in 1961-1990 to 1154mm (45.4in) in 1981-2010.

Flooding and "extreme" rain could become far more commonplace in the UK Photo: Rui Vieira/PA

Changes in sea surface temperatures because of decreasing Arctic sea ice is one possible cause for the changes in weather patterns.

Another possibility is that a 0.7C increase in global air temperatures since pre-industrial times has led to a four per cent increase in moisture in the atmosphere, bringing with it a greater potential for heavy rain.

Despite the trend towards warmer temperatures, last year was slightly cooler across the country than the average for the last 30 years, by 0.1C, while the number of hours of sunshine was marginally down on the average.

Professor Julia Slingo, Chief Scientist at the Met Office, said: "The trend towards more extreme rainfall events is one we are seeing around the world, in countries such as India and China, and now potentially here in the UK. Much more research is needed to understand more about the causes and potential implications.

"It's essential we look at how this may impact our rainfall patterns going forward over the next decade and beyond, so we can advise on the frequency of extreme weather in the future and the potential for more surface and river flooding.

"This will help inform decision-making about the need for future resilience both here in the UK and globally."

Almost 8,000 homes and businesses were flooded last year as the UK was repeatedly battered by heavy rain, storms and floods.

But 2012 began with a number of water companies imposing hosepipe bans as swathes of England faced drought following two dry winters.

The dry weather then gave way to persistent rain, with the UK experiencing a record April and June, and the wettest summer in a century, which hit crops badly.